From trucks and ships to industrial machines and power generators, diesel engines are built to last. While they are trusted worldwide for their durability and efficiency, here's one hidden factor that can even bring the most powerful diesel engine to its knees, and that is the fuel quality of the system. If your diesel is dirty, contaminated, or not maintained properly, you'll face endless breakdowns, costly repairs, and frustrating downtime. That's where the fuel filtration comes in.
So, in today's blog, we will walk you through the five most common problems you may face in diesel fuel, their causes, and how you can fix them perfectly. Keep reading until the end to find out what the experts of Njord Filtration have to say.
Why is Diesel Filtration Important?
Before we get into the problems, it's essential to understand why diesel fuel filtration is necessary. Now, as you already know, diesel degrades over time, and unlike gasoline, diesel fuels are easier to get contaminated. Amongst which, water caused by condensation or leaks is one of the biggest enemies of a healthy fuel. Because this stored water also invites microbial organisms, which are often accompanied by dirt and debris, thereby lowering the overall quality and potential of the diesel fuel.
But you won't replace the diesel regularly. Instead, you need to invest in the best and most effective ways, that is, filtering the fuel with the help of a polishing system. When you buy the diesel fuel polishing system by Njord Filtration, it will not only remove water, sludge, and dirt from the fuel but also protect the pump, engine, and injectors so that the fuel is stored efficiently without letting the dirt and condensation become an issue.
(Also read from our previous blogs: Fuel Maintenance Systems: Protecting Your Investment and Reducing Downtime )
5 Common Problems in Diesel Fuel and How to Solve Them?
The following are the top five most common problems in Diesel Fuel, with practical solutions:
- Microbial Growth, aka the Diesel Bug
The Problem: As we mentioned earlier, when water meets diesel, the microbial growth starts to produce. This will eventually create a slimy sludge called the diesel bug that clogs filters, corrodes tanks, and produces acid and foul smell that affects the quality of the fuel and the system.
Signs: if you notice blocked filters after a short time, slimy black or green deposits in the tank, and the engine performance is degrading, this means there's microbial growth in the fuel.
Solution: Diesel filtration system will remove water by cutting off the microbes' breeding ground, filter out sludge and biomass while maintaining a healthy fuel environment side by side.
- Water Contamination
Problem: Well, water is the main culprit, obviously. It becomes the breeding ground for every microbe that can infect the fuel quality. Most of the time, condensation is the reason for water, but sometimes water leaks or occurs during fuel deliveries, too. The game begins when this water enters the system, causing rust in the tanks and pipes. Apart from that, it also encourages the diesel bug to grow and damage the injector and cause engine misfire.
Symptoms: Symptoms are mostly engine misfiring, visible droplets in the fuel, and unexplained rust in the filter and tank.
Solution: In this case, the diesel filtration system will remove the free water through separation and capture tiny water droplets with advanced coalescers. - Dirt and debris
The Problem: As we mentioned earlier, diesel tanks accumulate dirt, dust or rust particles. In no time, this will wear out injectors and pumps, reduce combustion efficiency, and finally increase maintenance costs.
Signs: To check if it's dirt and debris, look for the common signs like black smoke from the exhaust, the start is hard or rough and you can see visible dirt in drained fuel samples.
Solution: In this case, the Njord Filtration system will capture particles down to a few microns with its multi-stage filter feature. Apart from that, it will also protect the sensitive engine components so fuel combustion is clean and efficient. - Fuel Oxidation and Sludge Formation
The Problem: Diesel fuel degrades over time, especially if it's stored for months or years, because oxygen exposure causes gum and varnish formation. In worst cases, it will also promote sludge growth at the bottom of the tanks, reducing the energy content of the fuel.
Signs: If you notice the diesel fuel is darkened, cloudy, sediment is visible at the bottom of the tanks, and combustion is poor with black exhaust smoke, then that means oxidation has started!
Solution: Here, the diesel filtration system will continuously circulate and clean fuel, prevent sludge buildup, and remove deposits to restore fuel usability. - Vapor and air contamination
The problem: In our final most common issue, we have air entering the fuel systems during the transfer, or maybe just through air leaks. However, this can lead to vapor bubbles in the fuel lines, provide inconsistent fuel pressure, and cause the engine to shut down abruptly due to misfires.
Signs: The signs of air contamination include hard starting, fluctuating RPMs, and stalling during operation.
Solution: In this case, a diesel filtration system will not just remove the entrained air and vapor during the process of filtration, but also ensure that the fuel pressure is stable while also making sure that the generators and engines are running smoothly.
Bottom Line
When you choose Njord Filtration for fuel filtration, you select a system that offers features like automation, advanced separation, and so much more. The main agenda is to have clean and pure fuel, so that whether it is for production machinery or backup electricity generators, they operate without any delay. All you need to do is invest in the right filtration system and you are good to go.
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